Well spudder



E. A. CAMPBELL 2,577,105

WELL SPUDDER Dec. 4, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1950 Dec. 4, 1951 E. A. CAMPBELL WELL SPUDDER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1950 INVENTOR. M a,

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 WELL SPUDDER Erwin A. Campbell, Wexford, Pa., assignor to Lee C. Moore Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 21, 1950, Serial No. 196,821

14 Claims.

This invention relates to well spudders. More particularly the invention relates to a hydraulically operated well drilling spudder which is constructed to minimize vibrations in the drilling derrick or mast and to apply the lifting force directly to the drilling tools.

In the usual percussion type drilling rig using a drilling tool, the tool is attached to a cable' which runs from a well up to a crown sheave mounted at the top of a derrick and then down to a winding drum on which it is wound and anchored. The winding drum is mounted at the base of the derrick and a drilling machine also mounted at the base of the derrick operates on the section of cable between the crown sheave and thedrum. The drilling machine comprises a sheave mounted on a fixed axle to engage the cable and a spudding sheave mounted on a movable axle to engage the cable closely adjacent the fixed sheave. The axle of the movable sheave is usually mounted on an oscillating arm attached to a connecting rod by which it is given a reciprocal motion. The up stroke of the drilling tool is obtained by forcing the movable sheave against the cable to place a link or loop in the cable to draw in the cable from the fixed sheave to the drilling tool and thus lift the cable and drilling tool. The down stroke of the drilling tool occurs when the movable sheave is reciprocated to release the loop to let the cable become straight and allow the drilling tool to fall.

As the drilling machine operates, the cable is subjected alternately to peak loads and loads of low to zero value. or mast is subjected to a compressive or downward load which is double the loads applied to the cable because the crown sheave is supporting two lengths of cable and one length always moves in the opposite direction from the other length.

On the down stroke of the drilling tool, the weight of the tool has to raise the length of cable between the winding drum and the crown sheave. This retards the fall of the drilling tool. 4

' The direction of rotation of the crown sheave is reversed twice during each operating cycle. This sheave is usually large in diameter and quite heavy so that its reversal of rotation requires energy from the drilling engine during the up stroke of the tool and the sheave absorbs energy from the tool during the down stroke. This results in decreased useful energy being applied to the drilling tool.

[Percussion drilling imparts a peculiar motion In this operation the derrick 2 to the drilling cable which causes the cable to slip in the groove on the crown sheave when the sheave reverses direction of rotation during the drilling. This slippage results in an injurious wear on both the sheave and the cable. The cable wear is very serious because the cable is an expensive commodity.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a spudding mechanism for percussion drilling by which the destructive load pulsations on the derrick or mast are reduced and the load and wear on the hoisting mechanism is entirely eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spudding machine for percussion drilling by which the wear and retarding efiect of the crown sheave may be avoided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically operated spudding mechanism which may be located at or near the top of a derrick or mast to take the load ofi the crown sheave and leave the derrick floor free of obstructions. 1

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically operated spudding mechanism for percussion drilling which may be located at the top of a derrick and in which the length of the drilling stroke may be widely varied while under the control of an operator on the floor of a derrick.

' With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the spudding mechanism for percussion drilling as hereinafter described, and particularly as defined in the appended claims. The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a view in the side elevation, with parts broken away, showing the preferred hoisting machine as applied to a drilling derrick.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the drilling cable loop-forming and clamping mechanism mounted near the top of a derrick. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the drilling mechanism shown in Fig. 2 taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the hydraulic pumps used for supplying pressure fluid for operating the hoisting mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the pumping cylinders and the loop-forming cylinder with the associated piping and valves to illustrate the method 'of varying the length of the loop-forming stroke, and

.Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of a drilling cable loop-forming mechanism as applied to a drilling mast.

The present invention is best applied to a drilling derrick in which the cable loop-forming mechanism is mounted at the top of the derrick. Referring to Fig. 1, a drilling cable H1 is taken from the usual bull Wheel or other hoisting drum l2 and passes up to a 'crown sheave t4 mounted on crown blocks 16 resting on the top of the derrick. The cable passes around the sheave It and then down through the derrick to a well opening at the bottom of the derrick. The section of the cable passing down from the sheave to the well opening is referred tohere in as the drilling section of the cable and this section has the usual stem and drilling bit I8 secured thereto. I

The loop-forming cable mechanism is attached to the crown blocks 55 immediately below the crown sheave and is arranged to operate at the upper end of the drilling section of the cable. The loop-forming mechanism consists'of a cylinder 2!) (see Fig. '2) which'is suspended by links 22 and24 which are pivotally mounted in brackets secured to thebottom of the crown block. A

piston 26 Fig. is mounted within the cylinder 23 and has a stem 28 extending through one end thereof which is bifurcated to receive a sheave 30. The suspension of the cylinder is such that the sheave 28 will normally hang in a position slightly removed from the drilling section of the cable l6. A fixed axis rotatable sheave 32 is mounted in an A-frame 34 which is secured to the crown block it. The fixed sheave 32 normally loosely engages the cable Ill. When the cylinder piston 26-is operated to places. loop in the cable the sheave 39 is moved to the right viewing Figs. 1 and 2, into'the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. At the time that the loopforming sheave is moved into the dotted line position the cable is gripped between a fixed clamp 36 secured to the bottom of the crown blockan'd a movable clamp 36 which is secured to an-arm 40 which is integral with and forms the upper end of the link 24. pivoted on a pin-42 mounted in a bracket 44 secured to the bottom of the crown'block l6.

As the piston 26 'is moved to force the sheave into loop-forming position, a spring 46 in the cylinder is compressed. The spring 46 acts in conjunction with hydraulic fluid to return the piston 26 back to the front end-of thecylinder and leave the sheave 3i! inloose engagement with the cable.

To'obtain the clamping grip on the cable before the cable loopis formed the first pressure exerted by fluid introduced .into the front end of the cylinder acts to move the cylinder bodily to the left, viewing Fig. '2, thus oscillating the arm 40 about the pin42 and placing theclamping block 38 in clamping position against the cable. This clamping.position prevents a further movement of the cylinder .to the left and thereafter the sheave 39 moves to the right in forming the cable loop. By this operation the cable is held in fixed position and takes the load impulse, produced by'the formation of the cable loop, off of the crown sheave and the section of the cable passing from the crown sheave to the cable drum !2. ing operation is imparted to'the drilling section of the cable and no energy is used in rotating the crown sheave or moving the section of the cable between the drum and the crownsheave. The clamping mechanism, furthermore, .holds the The link 24 and arm 40 are The 'full force of the loop-formcable in clamped position until the piston is retracted to release the loop and therefore the crown sheave does not have to absorb the im pulse and shock of the drilling stroke. Y 7

The loop-forming cylinder is preferably hy= draulically operated to give the desired recipro cation of the cylinder piston 26. The hydraulic fluid maybe a composition liquid such as oil, alcohols, and glycerine, or a mixture thereof, that is not subject to freezing and which gives a very positive action in the cylinder. The mechanism for producing and delivering fluid pressure to the loop-forming cylinder is illustrated more partic= ularly'in Figs. 1,:4 and 5. As shown in Fig. 1 an engine 58, through pulley 52, sprocket 54,

chain 56 and sprocket 53, drives a gear 52 which is journaled in a:pump frame 64. The gear 62 meshes with a gear 59 mounted on a shaft 66 (Fig. 4) journaled in the pump frame. Crank levers iii are secured to each end of the shaft 66 and these levers are connected by links 12 to a cross head 74 mountedin guides l6 in one end ofthe frame 64. .A piston rod l8 (Fig. 4) is secured to the cross head 74 and passes through pump cylinders and 82 which are secured in fixed positionin the frame 64. Pistons 83 and 84 are mounted on the pump rod i8 within the cylinders 36 and 82 respectively as illustrated in Fig. 5. Accordingly, as the pump rod is reciprocated, the pistons are "simultaneously reciprocated in each of the cylinders '80 and 82.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated the piping connections between the pumps 86 and-82 and the spudding cylinder 23. Pipes and Mare connected to the opposite ends of the pump 80, and'pipes .88 and 9t are connected to the opposite ends of the pump 82. Pipes 85 and88 are in turn connected with a pipe c2 while the pipes 86 and 90 strain turn connected with a pipe 94. 'Valves E and F (Figs. v1 and 5) aremounted respectively in the pipes 86 and-85 by which the circulation of the fluid from the :pump 82 to the cylinder 29 may lie-controlled. A by-pass line llwhaving a. valve B isconnected between the pipes 85 and 86 and a by-pass line Hi2 havinga valve A is connected between the pipes88 and 90. A'by pass line I04 having a valve C is connected between the lines 85 and '92. A by-pass line H36 having a valve Dis connected between the lines 86 and 88. The lower ends'of thepressure fluid lines 92 and '94 generally consist'of ahigh pressurefiexible hose and preferably flexible hose I68 and I ID are connected between the upper ends of the pipes 92 and 94 and the ends of the spudding cylinder 20 (See Fig. 1). 7

The pumping cylinders 8!] and '82 are double acting cylindersand act to pump fluid either directly to the spudding cylinder .or-to by-pass "a part or all of the fluid being, pumped to the other endcf the pump cylinder. The-pressure operating capacity of the spudding cylinder 20 is at least equal to the pumping capacity of thepumps 89 and 82. As illustrated inFig. 5 the longest stroke of the spudding cylinder piston will be obtained when the valves -A, 'B, C and'Dare closed, and the valves Eand. F are open. For the shortest stroke of the spudding cylinder the valve B should be closed, valve A should'be open, valves C and B should be'closed, whileithe valves E- and F should be open. To obtain any desired length of stroke of the spudding cylinder piston, between the longest and the shortest stroke, the valves may be operatedto circulate liquid from cylinders 3'3 and 82 and by-pass the desired amountin order to give the desired length of stroke. it will be noted'that the spudding cylinder and the pumps on both sides of the pistons are always full of liquid. Therefore, during the pressure stroke of the pump pistons, fluid will be forced from the non-pressure side of the spudding cylinder piston back to the non-pressure sides of'the pumping pistons. On the" return strokes of the pump pistons, fluid on the pressure side of the spudding cylinder piston will be returned to fill the pressure sides of the pump cylinders. The valves A, B, C, D, E, and F. control the amount of liquid supplied to the pressure side or" the spudding cylinder and control the distribution of liquid to the non-pressure sides of the spudding cylinder 28 and pumps so and 82.

The operation of the pressure supplying fluid pumps is a continuous uniform reciprocation and provides a pendulum-like reciprocation of the spudding sheave 353. This uniform back and forth motion tends to minimize the vibration and pulsation of the drilling cable and thus tends to cut down the strain and wear on the derrick and hoisting machine. The flexible hose in the piping connection is expansible and act as shock absorbers if the pressure of'the hydraulic fluid rises suddenly due to the drilling tool movement particularly upon the upward stroke.

It will be apparent that as the well gets deeper and deeper the length of cable being raised and lowered increases and requires an added pressure in placing the loop in the cable. Therefore, the

pressure of the operating fluid will increase to supply the desired pressure for placing the loop in the cable. The length of the shock absorbing hosemay be varied to provide for the amount of the lines 38 and 90 through check valves IIG.

Preferably the liquid in the supply chamber H4 is held under pressure by an air pump I I8 which is operated with the usual throttle valve H9 in accordance with the pressure in the chamber II4 to maintain a uniform desired pressure in the r chamber. When the pressure in the feed lines 88 and 9!! falls below the predetermined pressure in the'chamber I I I, fluid will be supplied through the loaded check valves H6 to bring the pressure in the lines to the desired amount. I

;In Fig. 6 is illustrated an alternative form of mechanism 'for forming the cable loop. This mechanism is shown as mounted upon a mast I just below the crown sheave I4. A sheave I22 is rotatably mounted on a fixed axle I 24 secured to the mast in position for the sheave to loosely engage the drilling cable III. A loopforming sheave I26 is journaled on an arm 128 of a bell-crank lever I33 which is pivoted on the axle I 24. The other arm I32 of the bell-crank lever I is pivotally connected with a piston rod I34 which in turn is connected to a piston mounted within a spudding cylinder I36.

The end of the spudding cylinder opposite the lever I30 is pivotally connected with one arm of a bell-crank lever I38 pivotally mounted on the mast I20. The other arm of the bell-crank lever I 38 carries a clamping shoe I40 which is arranged to press the drilling cable against a clamping jaw I42 which is mounted in fixed position on the mast I20. The opposite ends of the cylinder I36: are connected by means of flexible hose IIlBandf III] which in turn are connected with theabove described fluid circulating pipes 92 and 94 for supplying fluid and removing fluid from the cylinder I36. Whenthe cylinder I36 and sheave I26- are in the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 6 the sheave will loosely engage the drilling cable and allow it to move freely. At the time pressure fluid is introduced into the cylinder through line I08 the piston in the cylinder will tend to move the bell-crank lever I38 into clamping position on the cable and thereafter the further introduction of pressure fluid to the cylinder I36 will act to move the loop-forming sheave I 26 into the position shown in dotted lines to form a loop in thecable. Preferably, a spring is mounted in the cylinder I36 to move the loop-forming sheave I26 into the position shown in full lines, Fig. 6, and to hold the sheave in loose engagement with the drilling cable when the loop-forming mechanism is not in operation.

It will be understood that the loop-forming mechanisms shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 may be mounted on and used with either a drilling derrick or mast.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to be the best embodiment of it, as well as a modification thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic drilling machine comprising a derrick, a crown sheave rotatably mounted at the top of the derrick, a winding drum mounted at the base of the derrick, a drilling cable leading up from the drum over the crown sheave and down to a well-spudding drill attached thereto,

the improvement comprising, a loop-forming cylinder having a piston therein with a rod projecting therefrom, a rotatably mounted sheave connected with the rod in a position to engage the section of the drilling cable extending from the crown sheave to the spudding tool, a fixed sheave mounted in the derrick in position to engage the cable a short distance below the point of engagement of the loop-forming sheave with the cable, a hydraulic pump mounted at the base of the derrick and connections between the pump and the loop-forming cylinder to circulate liquid to and from thecylinder to operate the piston with a pressure and return stroke to form and release a loop in the cable for reciprocating the drill on the cable.

2. The drilling machine defined in claim 1 in which the fluid connections between the pump and the cylinder are expansible to provide for absorbing the shock eiTect of abnormal pressure created in operating the drilling tool.

3. The drilling machine defined in claim 1 in which a cable clamp is mounted to engage the cable between the crown sheave and the loopforming sheave and an operating connection is provided between the cylinder and the clamp arranged to clamp the cable at the beginning of the loop-forming movement of the cylinder to prevent the impulse of the loop-forming load being placed on the crown sheave and the section of cable extending between the crown sheave and the winding drum.

4. The drilling machine defined in claim 3 in whi h the loop-Ermine cy ind r and iston. ar susp nd by m ea l rom h er ick and arranged to oscillate when pressure iiuid is introduced into the cylinder tostart the cable leap-donning stroke, said oscillation acting to move. the clamp into clamping position on the cab e- '5, The drilling machine defined in claim 3 in which the loop-forming cylinder is movably suspended by links pivoted to the crown block of the derrick with a fixed clamping jaw secured to the crown block in position to engage the drilling cable closely adjacent the crown sheave, a movable clamping jaw mounted on a lever secured to and movable with a cylinder linked pivot and the pressure fluid connections between the pump and the cylinder being arranged to introduce fluid for the loop-forming stroke or the piston into the end of the cylinder opposite he lo p-to in heave- The drilling machine defined in claim 4 in which the cable clamp is composed of one jaw mounted in fixed position near the top of the derrick-adjacent the drilling section of the cable and a second jaw connected to and movable with a link for supporting one end of the cylinderwhereby introduction of pressure fluid into the cylinder will act to move the jaws into clampingposition and arrest the oscillatory movement oi thecylinder and thereafter the continued intreduction ofpressure fluid into the cylinder will drive the piston into. loop-forming position.

The drilling machine defined in claim 5 in which springs are connected between the derrick crown block and the oscillatable loop-forming cylinder to hold the loop-forming and fixed sheaves in loose engagement with the drilling cable when pressure fluid is not being circulated to the loop-forming cylinder.

8. The drilling machine defined in claim 1 in hich th um an li r a ou a t and the hydraulic connecting lines between the ends of the pump and the cylinder are arranged to return the hydraulic fiuid to the non-pumping side of the piston during each pressure stroke of the pistons.

9. The drilling machine defined in claim 6 in which a pressure relief valve is connected between the fiuid lines at opposite ends of the cylinder to prevent a destructive pressure from beingplaced on the cylinder piston and fluid lines.

10. The drilling machine defined in claim 1 in which the pump is composed of two pump cylinders of different fluid pumping capacities which are operated simultaneously, and valves are mounted in the lines connecting the pumps with the cylinder by which the length of the looprmin st qlse the ton in th win e -hay be varied.

l- The r ll ng ma hine efined. in im .5 in whi h the lui r cei n ca ac ty .0 hecy 1 is a l a equa to he comb ne umping capacities of the two pumps.

12. In a hydraulic drilling machine comprising a mast, ,a crown sheave rotatably mounted at the top of the mast, a winding drum mounted at the base of the mast, a drilling cable leading up from the drum over the crown sheave and down to a wellespudding drill attached thereto, the improvement. comprising, a loop-forming cyl *inder having a piston therein with a rod projecting therefrom and connected with one arm eta bell-crank lever pivoted on the mast, a loopiorm ng sheave rotatably mounted in the other arm of the bell-crank lever, a sheave rotatable on a fixed axis mounted on the mast, said sheave being positioned to engage the cable closely adjacentithe point of contact of the loop-forming sheave with the cable, a hydraulic pump mount; ed :at the base of the mast and connections be.- tween the pump and the 'loopeforming cylinder to circulate liquid to and from the cylinder to operate the piston with pressure and ,return strokes to form and release a loop in the cable for reciprocating the drill on the cable.

13. The drilling machine-defined in claim'l2 in which the connection between the cylinder piston rodand bell-crank lever is adjustable to vary the lengths of the pressure and return strokes of the s on in h c i n 14. The drilling machine defined in claim 12 in which a fixed cable clamping jaw is mounted on the mast adjacent the crown sheave in posi: tion toengage the drilling cable and a bell-crank lever is pivotally mounted on the mast with one arm connected to the loop-forming cylinder and the oth a m ryi a cl mp 'iaw "P s tinned to be -moved into engagement with the drilling cable opposite the fixed clamping jaw d ri th p e ure st o e of he i t n i t yl den 'ERWIN A. CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

